Quote:
Originally Posted by Mardelin  There is no profit in breeding, especially if you only breed 1 or 2 litters a year.
There are prescreening tests for the sire and dam. Special nutrition for the dam prior to whelping and especially after whelping. Possible emergency vet visit if the there is a problem with the whelping. Supplies for whelping. Vet check for the dam after whelping Not to mention possible time off from work prior to the whelping and after the puppies are born. Vet checks/shots (minimum of 2) for puppies. Special examinations for puppies to ensure they are of sound structure, eye specialists, ear specialists, temperament tests. Not to mention the countless hours of no sleep, watching the dam, making sure the pups are nursing and getting enough food. Weaning, training, socializing the new pups. Litter registration fees, getting a puppy package ready for the new families, + being on call for these families. You are lucky if you break even.... |
I agree with you there, And the Vet bills on my dogs that get an illness etc. emergency whelping assistance, emergency care on a bitch that suddenly developed pymetria,
sending a bitch to be bred, paying the flight cost, plus stud service, plus c section that I didn't think would have to be as none of mine have needed a c section only to have two dead pups. Cost in total over $1000 and no pups for me or anyone else. And that's just off the top of my head.
Testing my show/breeding stock and finding the best Vet I can that I know will know what they are looking at in the results. None of these Vets seem to have their clinic anywhere that close by and at minimum I end up an hours drive away one way and sometimes more. Gas here is about $4 + a gallon.
Then there is show costs and time away from work while at dog shows, dog show supplies, entry fees getting there and back. Time away from work awaiting a whelping and until the pups are well on their way that I can leave them a bit longer which is why I have my own dog grooming business that has no benefits no paid leave, no paid medical leave, no paid holiday time, no pension plan.
On another thread, I mentioned a dog I sold, got back 6 mos. later as the owner did not listen to what I told her to do and not do and ruined his temperment. I spent 3 mos of Obedience training with some excellent trainers I work with at my expense to get his confidence back and refunded some of the purchase price to the woman that originally bought him. After all the work and money I put into him, he is doing much better and was rehomed for a small part of what I likely could have sold him for but i knew this was a good home and it is, he is doing great.
Then there was the dog I sold at 3 years of age for $300 that I spent about $1000 on to find out she can't carry a litter including the spay, got back at 14 years when the owner died suddenly of a heart attack. I spent another $500 for her Vet care blood tests dental, etc and she died 4 mos later of kidney failure old age related. I made how much?
Then there was the pup I sold at 12 weeks, developed seizures a month later, I paid for testing and meds, chiro, massage therapy. He outgrew it by a year or so old, is now 8 years old and doing fine. The owner never told me until he was over a year old and weaned off the meds that she dropped him on his head the day she got him which likely is what caused the seizures. You think I got any money back for the Vet bills I covered that turned out to be likely the owners fault? Try no.
This scenario, if you take responsibility for your dogs and puppies is not unusual.
Pups I sell have all three puppy vacc's and most of the time are spayed/neutered which helps get rid of prospective buyers that want to buy sign nonbreeding but breed anyway and sell unregi. or register with a bogus registry.